Research profile

1. Theological understanding and academic mission

Canon law research is more than just the interpretation of norms. It is an expression of theological reflection that understands law as a necessary instrument for the realization of the Church's mission. In this sense, canon law represents an academic corrective that contributes to the renewal of a legal culture of theology and provides guidance for law, justice, and love in the life of the Church.

Following Pope Paul VI, who described canon law as an “effective and living instrument of the Church,” research at the Chair aims not only to describe legal structures analytically, but also to make them fruitful in their spiritual, theological, and pastoral dimensions.

2. Research focus

In the area of research, the Chair focuses on topics that are internationally relevant and have a high potential for relevance within the Church:

• Canonical mission and sanction law
• Analysis of ecclesiastical penal norms with a special focus on the legal function of the statute of limitations, especially in dealing with cases of abuse and their investigation.
• Canon law
• Systematic and comparative analysis of the internal law of Catholic religious orders and their leadership structures, particularly from the perspective of participatory leadership models and their potential benefits for the Church as a whole.
• Ecclesiastical higher education law
• Analysis of the legal structures of ecclesiastical educational institutions in the context of the tension between university self-image, ecclesiastical control, and social responsibility.

3. Cooperation, third-party funded research, and ecclesiastical consulting

The Chair sees itself as a bridge between academia, ecclesiastical practice, and social change. It is an active partner in the Index Canonicus, an international, interdenominational database for ecclesiastical law, which, as an open access platform, systematically indexes specialist literature on canon law, court decisions, universal and particular laws, reviews, and bequests. In this way, the Chair makes a lasting contribution to the visibility and accessibility of canon law research in a global context.

Research projects are systematically reviewed for their eligibility for third-party funding and developed in a targeted manner. The Chair is involved in advisory processes at the national and international level, for example in committees of bishops' conferences, in structural reforms in religious orders, and in providing legal support for the investigation of sexual abuse in church contexts. These activities flow directly into teaching and research and promote the further development of a responsible and sustainable legal culture in the Church.

4. Interdisciplinarity and social relevance

Canon law research at KU Eichstätt is embedded in an interdisciplinary dialog with theology, jurisprudence, sociology, and pastoral care. It sees itself as a critical and constructive contribution to the reformability of ecclesiastical institutions. In a time of growing tensions within the Church and processes of social transformation, it seeks legal and theological answers that do justice to both the Gospel and the signs of the times.